Hame-fastener.



PATENTED DBG. l, 1903.

R. DODSON. RAME FAQSTENER. APPLIUATIoN FILED 002cm, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

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Nrrnn STATES PATENT Patented December 1, 1903.

HAM E-EASTEN Ea.

SIECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

745,485, dated December 1, 1903.

Application tiled October 21, 1901. Serial No. 79,394. (No model.)

.To all whomv tm/afg concern:

Beit known that l, ROY DODSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, Ain the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have iu vented certain new and useful Improvements` in Haine-Fasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to haine-fasteners.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction shown in my Patent No. 679,418, issued July 3G), 1901, by providing suitable means for supporting the free end of the chain, which in some cases hangs down objectionably long, said means also having the additional function of serving to permit of the ready attachment to and removal therefrom of the haine-fastener to the bottom or lower loop of the haine and at the same time serving to prevent the hame-fastener from becoming accidentally disengaged from said lower loop of the hame.

With this and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel features ot and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of fragments of the lower ends of a pair of haines, showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalvertical sectional view through the same parts, and Fig. 3 -is a perspective view illustrating in detail the hook and guard-spring.

Referring to the drawings, A Adenote the lower ends of a set of llames provided with the usual loops a a.

B denotes the casing of the baule-fastener provided with a pivoted catch 9, a roller 10, and a hook 11, the latter of which is adapted to engage the loop of one of the haines.

12 denotes the chain, provided at one end with a hook which is adapted to engage the loop of one of the haines and is provided at its other end with a ring 18.

As shown, the'catch 9 is centrally pivoted,

as a 9', and has oppositely-extending arms 912 9", the former serving as a locking-tongue to engage the chain and the latter as a inger wise attached to the or thumb piece by which the catch maybe swung to retract said tongue.

The hook 11 is provided with a springguard tongue 16, which is riveted or otherbill of the hook and projects inwardly and bears at its free end upon the arm 9" of the catch. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that if the chain be adjusted to allow too much of its free end to hang downward, so as to present an unsightly appearance, as well as to cause an objectionable rattling, the chain may be brought close up under the casing and held in that position by snapping the ring at the end of the chain under the spring-guard and into the hook 11, as clearly shown. 1t will be observed, particularly by reference to Fig. 2, that when the ring is Aengaged by the hook 11 it will be impossible for it to become accidentally disengaged and drop down ina hanging position, for the reason that the strain applied to that part of the chain between the casing and the end which is hooked to the hame causes the inner end of the spring tongue or guard to be held in contact with said arm 9", so that should the ring slip out of the hook 11 and into the space between the guard and shank of the hook it will be held in such position by the guard and prevented from dropping out at any point between the hook 11 and arm 9b of the catch. The only way by which the ringV can be removed from the hook 1,1 is to slide said ring over and along 'the spring-guard until it passes the free end of the guard and occupies the dotted-line position above the arm 9b of the catch shown in Fig. 2, whereupon by pressing the free end of the spring inwardly a passage will be opened 'between said spring and the arm 9* for the disengagement of the ring. In applying the ring the spring is pressed in like manner, the ring slipped between the same and the arm 9b and then adjusted to the left into the hook 11. By the construction shown and described it will be seen that the spring not only serves to hold the ring in place, but by exerting pressure on the arm 9*' of the catch itk presses the arm 9a of said catch against therollervlO, thereby serving to prevent accidental disengagement of the catch from the chain.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

ICO

the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

A device of the class described, comprising a casing having a hook at one end and a chainengaging abutment element at the other end, a chain-engaging latch pivoted to the casing at a point between said hook and said abutment element and having oppositely-extending arms, one of which may bear against the abutment element, and a spring-guard fixed at one end to the hook and disposed across the space between the bill of the hook and the end of the other arm of the latch, said spring-guard exerting pressure against the inner side of said arm and normally engaging the other arm of the latch with the abutment element, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ROY DODSON. Witnesses:

E. it. BoTsoHoN, JOHN L.YoUNG. 

